The Royal Pig Pub & Kitchen Capitalizes on Cool Trends

This past July, the Royal Pig Pub & Kitchen debuted in Fort Lauderdale with a smart concept that capitalizes on popular trends. With its ingredient-driven comfort fare, an upscale pub ambiance, and a solid craft-beer and mixology program, the restaurant injects some life into the monotonous dining scene in downtown Fort Lauderdale. The location -- in the former Samba Room space on a west-end corner of Las Olas Boulevard -- is just across from bar/restaurants Vibe and YOLO and, like them, draws a young professional crowd: men in dark-gray business suits, women in little black dresses and white pearl necklaces.

The 233-seat eatery manages to pull off a clever formula with its atmosphere, mixing the entertainment value of a sports bar -- 30-plus high-definition televisions are all tuned to the game of the moment, and some four-seat booths even have a built-in private screen -- with tasteful décor. Lamps, hooks, mismatched frames, and bookshelves give the space a cozy feel. Shelves are lined with literature on economics, finance, and even a tale or two of fiction -- a subtle message to diners that if they're eating here, they're smart.